Texans bypass website glitches to get health care

Associated Press

Published 8:44 am, Wednesday, October 2, 2013

HOUSTON — Some Texans used old-fashioned paper documents or face-to-face meetings to enroll in the nation's new health insurance system as ongoing website snafus created problems on the second day of open enrollment.

Luis Veloz says he filled out a paper application form early Tuesday and mailed it in the evening. The 19-year-old college student says Wednesday he is eager to get health insurance after his parents racked up $250,000 in medical debt when his father had a heart attack.

Others say they understand the first days of a new program will be bumpy and will wait to enroll in a few weeks. The open enrollment period continues until December.

Steve Wolf has been trying to enroll for two days and is frustrated. He says the government should have anticipated the rush.